Demonstrating apparatus



Oct. 19, 1937. c. J. KING DEMONSTRATING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed ma 12, 1956 T llllll n 09192485 J. AVA/6- Oct. 19, 1937. KlNG 2,096,497

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Patented Oct. 19, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DEMONSTRATING APPARATUS a corporation Application May 12, 1936, Serial No. 79,398

7 Claims.

The object of this invention is to provide novel demonstrating apparatus of a type involving the use of a reservoir for water, in which reservoir there may be disposed apparatus or devices of some sort requiring submergence in the water of the reservoir for accomplishing a test of some kind. In respect to the present invention, the "demonstrating apparatus designed by me is'intended for use to afford a demonstrating test for grave vault constructions.

'Exemplifying the utility of my invention for the particular purpose just mentioned, it is noted that metal and similar grave vaults are frequently demonstrated by undertakers and embalmers for facilitating purchases by prospective customers, and the demonstration usually involves the satisfying of the customer that the grave vault construction which is oifered to the purchaser is water-proof and therefore an efficient enclosure for the cofiln of a deceased person, after the coffin is lowered into the grave. In the demonstration a miniature grave vault is usually employed and submerged in a vessel containing water, in the demonstration operation.

According to my invention, I avail of miniature apparatus useful to be retained in the undertaking parlors ready for use at any time, which apparatus comprises a water storage tank or reservoir having associated therewith a transparent aquarium-like reservoir into which water may be pumped. In the transparent reservoir may be placed a miniature grave vault substantially identical with the large vaults actually used, as to construction. My apparatus is adapted by the equipment employed to enable the demonstrator to quickly emplace in the empty transparent water reservoir the miniature grave vault,

after explaining its construction. Thereupon the water stored in the main storage reservoir or tank may be quickly pumped into the transparent reservoir and caused to sufficiently fill the latter ,as to submerge entirely the miniature grave vault therein. After leaving the vault thus submerged for a short while, the water which has been transferred from the storage reservoir into the transparent reservoir may be quickly caused to empty back into the storage reservoir to enable the miniature vault to become unsubmerged, whereupon it may be readily removed from the transparent reservoir and demonstrated to the prospective'purchaser of the large vault as being entirely dry interiorly, to show the efficiency of the air and water-tight construction of the vault.

My invention resides in the'general construc- ,tion of demonstrating. apparatus above referred to, and includes certain provisions for the quick movement of the water from the storage tank to the transparent reservoir, and release of the water from the latter reservoir so that it may go back into the storage tank.

Additionally, the invention involves the method of assembling the tank and reservoir features, the method of making the same in a compact single apparatus, provisions for temporarily tightly clamping the top of the miniature grave vault upon its base when the vault is placed in the transparent reservoir for test, the same similarly permitting quick removal of the vault by unclamping it at will, together with other detail features that will appear more fully hereinafter.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of a demonstrating apparatus built according to the invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the same, both Figures 1 and 2 illustrating the miniature burial vault disposed inthe transparent reservoir ready for the test of its construction.

Figure 3 is a transverse vertical sectional view through the apparatus, the vault in position for testing purposes.

Figure 4 is an end view of the apparatus, looking toward the end equipped with the pumping means previously referred to herein.

Referringparticularly to Figure 3 as showing most of the details of the invention, the main water storage tank or reservoir is designated I and comprises a closed tank. structure preferably made of sheet metal or the like, the sides and ends of the receptacle extending slightly below the bottom 2 to provide a support or base flange portion 3 at said sides and ends. The upper edges of the sides and ends correspondingly extend a little above the top 4 of the tank I, as shown at 5, to provide a drip flange so that if a little water drops from the apparatus being tested in the upper transparent reservoir 6 as the apparatus is removed therefrom, such water may be caught on the top of the tank 4 instead of dropping on adjacent furniture.

Now upon the tank I is supported and carried the transparent reservoir 6 previously mentioned, which is built somewhat like an aquarium. It consists of a bottom, 1 carried upon edge angle plates 8 that form a frame for the bottom I, said frame receiving at the inner sides of the vertical flange portions thereof the sides and ends of the transparent reservoir 6. The transparent reservoir 6 is made up. of aquarium glass side and end members held together by vertical angle plates 9, in a self-evident manner, the angle plates 9 at their lower ends being attached or welded to the vertical flanges of the angle plates 8 that form the bottom frame previously referred to, and said angle plates 9 at their upper ends being attached in a similar manner to end and side angle plates II] that go to make up an upper frame similar to that made'by the members 8, which upper frame is attached to the Vertical angle plates 9 in the same manner as the parts 8.

If desired, foot pieces II may be interposed between the top 4 of the lower maintank 2 and the bottom angle plates 8, said foot pieces being located at the lower ends of the angle plates 9 and affording supporting means between the demonstrating or transparent tank 6 and the top of the storage tank I. The horizontal area of the storage tank I is seen to be somewhat greater thanv the similar area of the demonstrating tank 6.

As seen in Figure 3 and other figures of the drawings, the apparatus shown as being demonstrated by my invention is a grave vault construction in miniature, comprising the top or body I2 and the base E3. The said miniature vault con-v struction may rest upon a sub-base member I4 directly supported by the bottom I of the demonstrating reservoir 6. The demonstration to be performed by the invention, according to its preferred use, resides in showing that the seal between the top or body member I2 of the vault and the base I3 is an efficient seal.

In order to establish actual working conditions of use of the vault structurein respect to the mode of connection between its body I 2 and base, I3, some means is provided for holding the body I2 down upon the base I3. This means, according to the invention, comprises an engaging or handle member I5 of somewhat U-form, the legs of which impinge upon the middle portion of the top of the vault body I2. 7 The bridge portion of the member I5 carries a rotatable resilient clamping member I6 pivotally connected thereto at II. By the mounting of the part IE on the part I5 the former may be swivelly or rotatively moved so as to bring the ends of the member IB beneath the sides of the upper frame of the demonstrating reservoir 6 formed by the angle'plates III. Under these conditions the member I 6 will clamp the engaging member I5 down upon the top of the vault body I2 and hold it'firmly in cooperation with its base I3. By turning the member IIi rotatively from the position shown in Figures 2 and 3 of the drawings, its ends may be disengaged from the parts Ill and the connected members I5 and I6 removed, thereafter permitting the body or top I2 of the vault to be removed from the reservoir 6.

Leading downwardly within the demonstrating reservoir 6, as seen best in Figures 3 and 4, is a vertical pipe I8, the upper end of which passes through the bottom of the reservoir 6 and is clamped in water-tight connection therewith by suitable packing and nut members I9. The pipe I8 is a water flow pipe establishing communication between the reservoir 6 and the tank I and enters the tank I through a water-tight opening in the top 4 of the tank, terminating at the lower end in contact with the upper side of the bottom 2 of the tank I. Adjacent its lower end the pipe I8 is provided with cut-outs providing openings 20 establishing communication between the tank I and the tank 6. The pipe I8 may be welded to the top 4 of the tank I and thus used asv a rigid connecting member between the bottom I of the reservoir 6 and said tank I.

Adjacent to one end of the demonstrating apparatus above described is located a pump 2| having a suitable barrel or body. This pump is an ordinary air pump of any conventional construction, and its lower end has communication at 22by a pipe 23 which leads into the tank I just beneath the top 4 of the latter, as shown at 24. The purpose of the'pump 2I is to force air into the upper portion of the tank I which is practically filled with water or at least contains suflicient water to fill the reservoir 6 to a point above the top of the body I2 of the miniature vault. T V I Leading from the uppermost portion of the tank I is an air vent 25 having a control valve 26 for openingand closing such vent.

With the above construction of the parts of my apparatus in mind, the use of the same for demonstrating purposes may be simply described. Normally, water will be maintained at a sufficient level inthe tank I such that when forced into the reservoir 6 it will submerge the miniature vault construction described and shown. A person to whom the vault construction is explained, as for instance for the purpose of making a prospective sale, may examine the miniature-vault carefully while the same is removed from the demonstrating reservoir 6. Thereupon the vault construction will be placed in the reservoir 6 and its top or body I2 clamped down on the base I3by means of the parts I5 and I6. This done, and the valve 25 being closed, the handle 22 of the pump 2I is given a few reciprocations and the air thus pumped into the upper-portion of the tank I causes the water therein to pass through the pipe I8 :up into the demonstrating reservoir 5. Sufficient pressure will be thus established in the tank I to cause enough water to enter the tank 6 to submerge the miniature grave vault; thereupon the testor demonstration of the efficiency of the vault is performed. The operator may leave the vault submerged in the tank 6 for any desired period of time. The submerging demonstration completed, the valve 26 will be opened, thereby immediately releasing the ,air

pressure upon the water in the tank I so that the water in the'demonstrating reservoir 6 will quickly pass downwardly through the pipe I8 into the tank I where it was previously stored. The body I2 of the vault in, the reservoir 6 may now be readily removed from-the reservoir by manipulation of the clamping means I6, as previously described, and removal of the parts I5 and I6. The base I3 and vault portion I2 may now be carefully examined by a prospective purchaser of the vault with a view to being assured that no moisture or water has entered the vault in the demonstrating operation. The foregoing completes a demonstration, and thereafter the vault part I2 may be replaced in the reservoir 6 and the apparatus made ready for another demonstration later on. The side and end wallsof the reservoir 6 being transparent, because of the use of aquarium glassin'the' construction, the person for whomthe demonstration is made can readily seethe vault during the entire demonstrating operation. I

If desired, a power drivenpump may be provided instead of the manually operated pump 2 I, or any other means for developing air pressure to effect operation of the device ofthe present invention maybe employedyas will be obvious to those skilled in the art. 1' The engaging or handle member l serves also for lifting the vault l2 from the reservoir when desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. In demonstrating apparatus of the class described, in combination, a closed water storage tank having a bottom, top and sides, a demonstrating reservoir associated with said water storage tank, means establishing communication between the said tank and reservoir so that water may be caused to pass from the storage tank into the demonstrating reservoir and back again to the storage tank, and an instrumentality for causing the transfer of the water from the storage tank to the demonstrating reservoir, side portions of the storage tank projecting slightly above the top portion thereof and the demonstrating reservoir being seated on the top of the storage tank within the space surrounded by said upwardly extended portions of the sides of the storage tank.

2. In demonstrating apparatus of the class described, in combination, a water storage tank, a demonstrating reservoir associated with said water storage tank, means establishing communication between the said tank and reservoir so that water may be caused to pass from the storage tank into the demonstrating reservoir and back again to the storage tank, an instrumentality for causing the transfer of the water from the storage tank to the demonstrating reservoir, and detachable clamping means cooperative with the upper portion of the demonstrating tank for holding apparatus to be demonstrated in position in the demonstrating reservoir.

3, Demonstrating apparatus such as described, comprising a closed base or bottom tank adapted to contain water, a demonstrating reservoir carried upon the top of said tank and comprising a transparent wall structure, a pipe communicating with the interior of the demonstrating reservoir and connected with the bottom thereof, said pipe leading through the top of the tank and terminating near the bottom of the latter, said pipe having openings near its lowerend and bottom of the tank to establish communication between the pipe and said tank, a pumping unit carried by the tank and having an air pipe connecting the same and leading into the upper portion of the tank, a release valve at the upper portion of the tank for releasing the air pressure in the tank when the valve is opened and for closing the tank from connection with atmospheric air when the valve is closed, and a clamping device carried by the demonstrating reservoir and comprising an engaging member to engage and hold apparatus to be demonstrated within the demonstrating reservoir, and a swinging clamp member of resilient material carried by said engaging member and adapted to engage and disengage at its ends with opposite side portions of the demonstrating reservoir.

4. In a portable demonstrating apparatus for demonstrating efficiency of burial vault structures or the like, in combination, an air tight water storage tank, a demonstrating reservoir separate from the tank and adapted to contain water, said reservoir being open at its upper portion to readily admit of the emplacement therein of the vault or like apparatus, the efficiency of which is to be demonstrated, and the walls of said reservoir being transparent, means rigidly connecting the reservoir with the water storage tank, and pumping means for pumping air into the water storage tank and therefrom into the demonstrating reservoir, together with means for releasing the air from the water storage tank in order that the water forced therefrom into the reservoir may flow back into the tank after the demonstration of that which has been disposed in the reservoir is completed.

5. A portable demonstrating apparatus for demonstrating efficiency of burial vault structures or the like, as claimed in claim 4, wherein the means rigidly connecting the demonstrating reservoir with the storage tank comprises a water flow pipe establishing communication between the tank and reservoir.

6. A portable demonstrating apparatus for demonstrating efficiency of burial vault structures or the like, as claimed in claim 4, wherein the means rigidly connecting the demonstrating reservoir with the storage tank comprises a water flow pipe establishing communication between the tank and reservoir, the upper end of said water flow pipe having detachable clamping means connecting the same with the bottom of the demonstrating reservoir, whereby the latter may be removed from the tank and. assembled thereon so as to be supported on the top of the tank when in use, the pumping means comprising an air pumping unit connected with the tank so as to be movable therewith and with the demonstrating reservoir as said parts are moved from place to place, and means for conducting air from the pumping unit into the upper portion of the water tank.

7. In a portable demonstrating apparatus for demonstrating efiiciency of burial vault structures or the like, in combination, a water tank having the top thereof disposed slightly below the side walls which form an upwardly extending ledge around the top to catch water that may drip thereinto, a demonstrating tank having transparent walls comprising a unitary structure disposed on top of the water tank with its lower portion within the space surrounded by the portions of the side walls extending above the top of the water tank, detachable connecting means between the demonstrating reservoir and the water tank comprising a water pipe rigid on the tank and detachably clamped to the reservoir on the bottom portion of the latter, a pumping unit connected with one of said reservoir and tank means to pump water therefrom through the water pipe into the reservoir, together with a clamping instrumentality cooperative with the top portion of the reservoir to hold an apparatus to be demonstrated as to efficiency in proper place in the reservoir, the top of the reservoir being open so as to permit the introduction of apparatus to be demonstrated, into the reservoir and ready removal thereof, the clamping instrumentality being removable from the reservoir when released from the latter to permit removal of the demonstrating apparatus that may be disposed in the reservoir.

CHARLES J. KING. 

